Register for delivery of air



June 22, 1965 D. A. GOETZ REGISTER FOR DELIVERY OF AIR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 12, 1963 INVENTOR. Daniel A. Goefz Ms A TTORNE rs June 22, 1965 D. A. GOETZ REGISTER FOR DELIVERY OF AIR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 12, 1963 INVENTOR. Daniel A. Gael:

HIS A T TORNEYS June 22, 1965 D. A. GOETZ REGISTER F OR DELIVERY OF AIR File d March 12, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. Daniel A. Goa/z MM,

BY Mwm HIS ATTORNEYS which conveys air thereto.

United States Patent O 3,199,209 REGISTER FGR DELIVERY OF AN Daniel A. Goetz, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Gateway Building Products Company, Pittsburgh, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Mar. 12, 1963, Ser. No. 264,592 2 Claims. (Ql. 93-195) This invention relates to a register which delivers warm, cooled or fresh air into a room, hall, auditorium, or the like, and particularly to a register which is adapted for placement at the base or baseboard of a room and wh ch is made from a good impact strength plastic material.

Conventionally, registers comprise a housing formed by side or end and rear walls and a grille which comprises a substantial part if not all of the front side of the housing. Generally, the grille is aflixed to the housing which has an opening in its bottom and/or rear wall to eifect a connection with an opening of a duct This air delivered into the interior of the housing then exits into the room through openings in the grille. V

Heretofore, the registers in use have had certain shortcomings which include difiiculty in cleaning because of inability to easily separate the grille from its housing and to remove dirt from the housing once the grille has been taken out. I

A second shortcoming has been no provision for easily adding one register to another for accommodation of at least two spaced apart ducts or for a particular installation and/or space problem. My invention provides a register which is easy to clean, has ability to deliver air in more than one direction, is easily adaptable to different sizes of air ducts and has provision for simple and easy combination with other similar registers to accommodate installation and space problems. Specifically, my register comprises a housing adapted for connection to an opening of an air duct and detachably mounting a grille in a position where it forms a front side of the register. The grille provides an attachment for a damper member such that interiorly of the housing intersect perpendicularly the'longitudinal axis are at a central part of the grille and a first portion of those vanes located in the planes which intersect the axis at acute angles are at one end part of the grille and extend angularly from the one end towards a central part of the housing. A second portion of those vanes located in the vertical planes which intersect the axis at acute angles are at the other end part of the grille and extend angularly from the other end towards the central part of the housing.

The grille also includes openings which are disposed in a plane positioned substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the housing and extending angularly towards the top of the register. The housing includes walls which de fine at one end a first opening and at the other end a sec- 3,19%,2? Patented June 22, 1965 ter is not connected to a second one, a first end cover shaped to fit into and engage at least a portion of the walls which define the receptacle closes one end of the housing. This first end cover and/ or the receptacle have means for providing a detachable connection with one another. For the other end of the housing, there is a second end cover formed to detachably engage the projection.

0nd opening and which form at one end a receptacle shaped to engageably receive a projection formed by the Walls at the other end. The projection and receptacle are so shaped that a detachable junction can be effected with an end of a second housing "to provide a register having at least two sections disposed in tandem. When the regis- The housing has a bottom and a rear wall at least one of which includes severable sections to accommodate a connection of the register with a given size of air duct.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of my register;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged section view along the line II=II of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a section view at a connection of a grille of theregister and a damper plate;

FIGURE. 4 is a view along the line 1VIV of FIG- URE 3; 7

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 1 with the grille and end cover-s removed;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a left-hand end cover of the register of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective View of a right-hand end cover of the register of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 8 is a section view along the line VIII-VIII of FIGURE 2 showing a snap fit structure for the grille and housing of the register of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 9 is a section view along the line lXIX of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 10 is .a partial perspective view showing the register of FIGURE I joined to a second register in an end-.to-end relationship.

:My register can be made from various materials such as sheet metal or plastics and particularly those plastics which .are suitable for use in the injection molding processes. Some of the properties desired in the plastics are rigidity, stiffness at temperatures at least F., strength,

good impact resistance, creep resistance, chemical resistance, abuse resistance, and ability to be cemented, glued,

lacquered, and painted; Among the plastics which are found to be satisfactory are polypropylene, high density carbonates.

Referring to FIGURES 17 inclusive, my register comprises a'housing 1 (FIGURE 5) which detachably mounts a grille and pivota'ble damper combination 2 (FIGURE 2) and left-end and right-end covers 3 and 4, respectively (FIGURES 1, 6 and 7). Thus, for easy cleaning, the grille and damper combination, as well as both end covers, are'quickly removable from the housing so that they, as well as the housing, can be readily washed.

When made from plastics by an injection molding process, the housing (FIGURE 5) comprises a frame 5 having integral therewith a rear wall 6, a top panel 7, a front foot section 8 and a down-turned front side strip 9 connected to the .top portion of the endsof the frame by two bands 10 and 11 which incline upwardly from the front side towards the rear wall. Glued, cemented or map interlocked to the frame is a bottom plate 12.

As show-nin'F IGURES 2 and 5, the rear wall has first, second and third panels 13, 14- and 15 and two vertical strips 16 and 17, one of which separates the first and second panels and the other separates the second and third panels. The bottom portion 18 of each strip is severed from its adjacent panel and terminates short of the bottom edge 19 of the panels. Each of the panels is cut away (FIGURE 2) extending into the housing. As shown, this s air duct opens interiorly'into thehousing for delivery of warmed, cooled or fresh air to the register.

The bottom plate 12 (FIGURES 2, and 9) comprises .twohorizontal end sections 22 and 23 connectedby a narrow horizontal strip '24 running along the front-side of the bottom plate .12. Integral with the end sections '22 ,and .23 and the strip 24 is a low vertical band 25 which their end section,.from each other, and fromthe strip by V-shaped grooves 27 which permit easy separation of selected ones from. the bottom plate. These tabs impart quick'and easy adaptability of the bottomplate to different sizeair ducts and, .as shown in FIGURE 5, some tabs have been 'rernoved'to accommodate the duct 21.

Each end paneland-eachtab have a bore 28 therethrough 'for accommodating a screw or bolt which attaches the housing to a fioorin a-room.

'Of course, the rear wall may be similarly provided with severable tabs to render it adaptable todiiferent size ducts which are located in aside wall as distinguished from the floor ofa room.

'Thegrille 29 of the combination 2 has a lower section '30 which includes a plurality of vertically spaced apart vanes 31 and an upper section 32 which'includes a1plurality of spaced apart windows 33 integral therewith. This lower-section has a right angle 'foot faintegral therewith .andextending lengthwise of the grille.

V e The foot 34 is shaped to engage and seat against the top of the front foot section 8 whosetopcomprisesa right angle ledge.35.- At

engages an;eclge portion of thebands 10 and 11. On

.each flangeis a finger .grip37 .for easy separation of the grille from the housing. Spaced along the inside of the right anglefoot are small. projecting lips v38 (FIGURES) shaped-to. provide asnap fit of the grille upon the housing and disposed to extend diagonally inwardly from the inner end of the ledge of. the front footsection 8.

Affixed to therear Wall 12 interiorlyof the housing .aretwo spaced apart brackets 39 which impart rigidity thereto.

The windows 33'inthe uppersection 32 of the. grille 29lie in a plane which is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the housing and which incline from the upper part of the-lower section 30 towards the top-panel '7 of ,thehous- -ing. Such a disposition of -the windows directs air exiting therethrough upwardly relative to that air which flows out between the vanes 31.

The vanes comprise three groups, the first'3la (FIG- URE 9) of which isin the central part of the grille and whichlies in .vertical planes positioned to intersect perpendicularly a longitudinal axis of the housing. Accordingly, this first group directs air substantially directly forward'andupwardly a small amount since the grille fits against the upwardly inclined bands "10 and 11.

The-vanes of the second group 31b are at the leftend part of thegrille vieWingFIGURES 1 and 9 and are in vertical planes which intersect'the longitudinal axis at acute angles-and which extend angularly from the left end part towards a central .part of the housing. I

' The vanesof group 310 are at the right end of the housing and lie in vertical planes which intersect the 1on I gitudinalaxis at acute angles and which extend angularly from the right end of the housing towards a central por-. tion. Thus, the combination of the three groups of vanes and the windowsdispersesair from the registerin four different-directions and thereby increases the rate ofwarming, cooling orventilating a room, 7

At thetop of the grille and integral therewith are four spaced apart saddles 40, two of which have been referred to, which pivotally mount a damper 41 by seating four trunnion pins 42'integral with the damper along its top side. and its saddle to provide a friction pivotal mounting of the damper upon the grille. This friction mounting permits the damper to-be moved to a given position interiorly of the/housing and there maintained for regulationof amount of air exiting outthrough the vanes and windows. The force of the spring clamp upon the trunnion and its saddle assures; retention of they damper in the given position. These spring clamps are easily attached to and detached from the grille and thus provide a detachable'mounting for the combination of the damper and the grille.

Connected to the damper at one side is a push-pull lever 44- (FIGURES 1 and 2) which projects out through an.

' therefrom is a first stop rib 46 which is perpendicular to .eachend of the grille is a flange 36 which fits over and a longitudinal axis of the housing and extends peripherally along the rear wall 6, across the top plate 7, and along the band 11 and inside wall of the front foot 'section 8. 'This first stop rib, in combination with'the in side walls of the housing, excluding the bottom plate 12,

forms a receptacle 47 shaped vto receive and engage aprojection, such as projection 48, at the left end of the housing to effect an end-to-end connection of one register to a second one 49, as shown in FIGUREIO.

FIGURE 5 shows the projection 48 at the left end of the register as formedintegrally with the housingand as being an extension of the left end of the housing and of the bottom plate 12.. The projection has the peripheral shape of a cross section of the housing and, except. for the bottom plate portion, is indented an amount equal to the thickness of the peripheral wall of the housing. Accordingly, it fitsinto and'peripherally engages the .first stop rib 46 and interior walls of a receptacle, such as receptacle 47,at an end of the second register 49 to form-two.

arranged in tandem (FIGURE .10).

When the right end of the register is not joined to a I second one, the right end cover 4 is .detachably mounted in the receptacle 47 (FIGURES 5, 7 and 9). This right end cover is a half shell which has a peripheral contour similar to the periphery of the receptacle 47 and sufliciently smaller so that the cover fits into the receptacle and extends from the right end of the housing an amount substantially equal to the extension of the projection 481 I from the left end of the housing. On its front and rear sides 50 andSl, respectively, and along a portion of the inside edges 52 of each is a low raised land 53 which. has

two spaced apart extensions-54 and- 55. 'The lands and extensions engage two corresponding slots 56-and' 57 on the inside oftherear wall and the inside of-the band, re-= spectively, to provide a snap fit of the cover. within the housing.

To closethe left end of the 58 of the 'frame (FIGURES 5, 6 and 9). The contour of this, cover 3 is that of the-periphery of the projection and,: accordingly, engages same substantially around its respective side. 7 I sions 6.3 and 64 (shown only re land 6'2)and the lands and extensions, in combination-with.grooves.65 of the .housing provide a snap fit for the cover. These grooves of the housing are formed by the inside edge 66 of the, projection 48 and the stop rib 58. The end covers 3 and r 4 form end walls of the housingand in some register sections one or both such covers are afiixed to the housing A spring clamp 43 engages each trunnion pin 42 housing, I usethe left end .cover 3 and a shalf shell which fits inside the projection 48 and extends into engagement with a secondstop rib and the bands and/or 11 then. form an inwardly extending flange of these end walls. Also, the stop ribs 46 and 58 can be considered end walls with an opening therethrough and with the bands 10 and 11 forming the inwardly extending flanges thereof.

My invention has a number of features which render it advantageous and attractive. In the first place, the detachable grille, damper and end covers permit easy and fast cleaning.

In the second place, a number of register sections can be readily connected end-to-end without loss of attractiveness and without modification to any section.

In the third place, the register has ability to deliver air in four different directions.

In the fourth place, when made from plastics, there is no rust problem.

In the fifth place, the register is easily adaptable to different sizes of air ducts.

In the sixth place, my invention embodies a combination of two or more of the above-identified features into one register.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is understood that it may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. An air register section comprising (a) a housing formed of top, back, front, inclined front and end walls,

(b) said. inclined front wall being a removable grille mounted in an opening between said top, front and end walls,

(c) said front and end walls having inwardly extending flanges along the front side of said housing,

(d) said top wall having a depending flange along the front side of said housing, said flanges of said front, end and side walls defining said opening,

(e) said grille having outwardly extending flanges along its outer edges, the side and lower flanges of said grille resting on said side and lower flanges of said opening and the upper flange of the said grille extending under said depending top flange,

(f) the flanges of said grille having projecting lips which provide a snap fit of the grille to said flanges of said opening,

(g) a damper,

(h) means pivotally and detachably mounting said damper upon said grille interiorly of said housing and permitting movement of said damper to regulate amount of air exiting from said register,

(i) said means including detachable spring members which engage a portion of pivot members of said damper and a portion of said grille to form said detachable mounting of said damper.

2. The register section of claim 1 wherein one of said end Walls has an opening therethrough, said top, back and front walls each having an outwardly extending inset flange to form a projection of complementary peripheral configuration to said end of said housing so that the other end of a like housing may be received thereby to form a register comprising two sections arrangedin tandem, said other end of said second mentioned housing including an opening therethrough, the top, back and front walls of said other end of said last mentioned housing having outwardly extending flanges forming a projection of complementary peripheral configuration and disposed to receive therein said inset flanges of said first mentioned housing.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,116,873 a 5/38 Williams 98-40 2,516,871 8/50 Haugen 98-40 2,656,780 10/53 Spieth 98-40 2,768,571 10/56 Pearson 98-106 2,781,714 2/57 Labus 98-40 2,799,213 7/57 Hansen 98-40 2,811,096 10/57 Leigh 98-106 2,814,242 11/57 Marini 98-40 2,855,186 .10/58 Brinen' 98-40 X 2,876,691 3/59 Woods 98-40 2,902,919 9/59 Waalkes 98-40 3,081,689 3/63 Bell 98-40 ROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN AIR REGISTER SECTION COMPRISING (A) A HOUSING FORMED OF TOP, BACK, FRONT, INCLINED FRONT AND END WALLS, (B) SAID INCLINED FRONT WALLS BEING A REMOVABLE GRILLE MOUNTED IN AN OPENING BETWEEN SAID TOP, FRONT AND END WALLS, (C) SAID FRONT AND END WALLS HAVING INWARDLY EXTENDING FLANGES ALONG THE FRONT SIDE OF SAID HOUSING (D) SAID TOP WALL HAVING A DEPENDING FLANGE ALONG THE FRONT SIDE OF SAID HOUSING, SAID FLANGES OF SAID FRONT, END AND SIDE WALLS DEFINING SAID OPENING, (E) SAID GRILLE HAVING OUTWARDLY EXTENDING FLANGES ALONG ITS OUTER EDGES, THE SIDE AND LOWER FLANGES OF SAID GRILLE RESTING ON SAID SIDE AND LOWER FLANGES OF SAID OPENING AND THE UPPER FLANGE OF THE SAID GRILLE EXTENDING UNDER SAID DEPENDING TOP FLANGE, (F) THE FLANGES OF SAID GRILLE HAVING PROJECTING LIPS WHICH PROVIDE A SNAP FIT OF THE GRILLE TO SAID FLANGES OF SAID OPENING, (G) A DAMPER, (H) MEANS PIVOTALLY AND DETACHABLY MOUNTING SAID DAMPER UPON SAID GRILLE INTERIORLY OF SAID HOUSING AND PERMITTING MOVEMENT OF SAID DAMPER OF REGULATE AMOUNT OF AIR EXITING FROM SAID REGISTER, (I) AND MEANS INCLUDING DETACHABLE SPRING MEMBERS WHICH ENGAGE A PORTION OF PIVOT MEMBERS OF SAID DAMPER AND A PORTION OF SAID GRILLE TO FORM SAID DETACHABLE MOUNTING OF SAID DAMPER. 